Carlos Peguero in cleanup spot against Angels on Wednesday

Put someone capable of hitting home runs at the designated hitter spot.

So rookie slugger Carlos Peguero – he of the all-or-nothing .222 batting average and five home runs in 29 games – will bat in the No. 4 spot against the Angels on Wednesday.

“We’ve got to keep searching to try to find something that works for us offensively,” Wedge said, and yeah, they do. “We’ve got these young kids up here, they’re right in the middle of it. He’s (Peguero) a threat every time he walks up there.”

Wedge speaks the truth. Peguero is tied for third on the team in homers despite playing in fewer than half of the Mariners’ games this season.

And they’re running out of options as far as a reliable cleanup hitter with consistent pop. Jack Cust hasn’t proven himself capable of being a big-RBI guy, managing to drive in just 19 runs in 53 games while hitting only two homers.

The most damning statistic, according to baseball-reference.com: Mariners cleanup hitters this season have managed just four home runs.

Miguel Olivo, an occasional cleanup option, has belted 10 home runs this season, but Wedge typically doesn’t stick him in the No. 4 spot against right-handers. Adam Kennedy, who is tied with Peguero with five homers, has occupied the cleanup spot with relative aplomb against righties, but he’s not an everyday player and certainly not an any-time home-run threat.

And Wedge has stated all season that the team’s home run leader, Justin Smoak, simply isn’t suited to bat fourth.

Whatever works, Wedge says.

“I’m past worrying about much of anything when it comes to what we’re trying to do offensively,” Wedge said. “I’m just more focused on being more aggressive, not being afraid to take chances, and just really curious about finding out about what people are capable of doing. I think that when you talk about what we’re capable of doing and what we are doing offensively, those are two different things. I think we keep working to try to find a combination that works and keep working to get these guys going. We’ll find out who’s going to really be in the mix as we move forward.”

KENNEDY WORKING AT THIRD

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Kennedy was taking grounders from bench coach Robby Thompson at third base, an interesting development since Kennedy has yet to make an appearance at the hot corner this season.

That would seem to be the most likely position for him once prospect Dustin Ackley is called up from Triple-A Tacoma, though. Ackley is likely to be given every opportunity to prove himself as the team’s every-day second baseman moving forward, meaning Kennedy, one of the team’s most consistent hitters this season, will have to make appearances elsewhere if the Mariners want to keep his bat in the lineup.

And they most certainly do. So it makes sense that Kennedy would be working out at third base, where he’s played 90 career games, most recently last season with the Washington Nationals.

Here’s all Wedge had to say about the pre-game practice: “He’s been taking some ground balls at third, moving around the infield, so you’ll continue to see that happen.”

Vague, yes. But that doesn’t mean the notion should be overlooked or brushed aside. If the Mariners really are serious about letting Ackley continue his progression as a second baseman at the Major League level, they also must find a way to get Kennedy into the lineup consistently. And regular third baseman Chone Figgins hasn’t exactly done anything to make himself indispensible.

Another option for Kennedy once Ackley is called up could be designated hitter, where Cust’s underwhelming play has been wearing thin. But moving Kennedy to DH would further crowd that position, too. So while much remains to be sorted out from a personnel perspective before Ackley gets the call, don’t be surprised if Kennedy moves across the diamond in the near future.